Cable connector

ABSTRACT

A CABLE CONNECTOR COMPRISING A BODY PORTION HAVING A TOP PLATE ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO AN INSULATING BLOCK, AND A DEPENDING CHANNEL PORTION AT ONE END, THE SIDES OF THE CHANNEL BEING TAPERED DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY FOR THE RECEPTION OF A CABLE END, A RECESSED LUG PROJECTING UPWARDLY AT ONE SIDE OF THE CHANNEL, AND HAVING A DOWNWARDLY TURNED FLANGE, AND A SECOND LUG PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE EDGE OF THE CHANNEL AND HAVING A DEPENDING FLANGE WITH A CENTRAL SLOT THEREIN. AN L-SHAPED CAP HAVING A FIRST LEG WITH AN ANGULARLY OFFSET END PORTION WHICH EXTENDS INTO THE RECESS OF THE RECESSED LUG, AND A SECOND LEG HAVING A SLOT THEREIN WHICH COACTS WITH THE CENTRAL SLOT IN THE DEPENDING FLANGE OF THE SECOND LUG DEFINING A PROTUBERANCE AT THE END OF THE SECOND LEG WHICH SEATS BENEATH THE SECOND DEPENDING FLANGE, A THREADED BORE IN THE FIRST LEG, AND A CABLE CLAMPING SCREW ROTATABLE IN THE THREADED BORE.

Feb. 9, 1971 H, ORR 3,562,701

CABLE CONNECTOR Filed May 15, 1968 INVENTOR BY 06 (WV United States Patent Olfice 3,562,701 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 3,562,701 CABLE CONNECTOR Harley J. Orr, Bedford, N.H., assignor to Sola Basic Industries, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 15, 1968, Ser. No. 729,176 Int. Cl. H01r 7/12 US. Cl. 339-272 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cable connector comprising a body portion having a top plate adapted to be secured to an insulating block, and a depending channel portion at one end, the sides of the channel being tapered downwardly and inwardly for the reception of a cable end, a recessed lug projecting upwardly at one side of the channel, and having a downwardly turned flange, and a second lug projecting outwardly from the opposite side edge of the channel and having a depending flange with a central slot therein. An L-shaped cap having a first leg with an angularly offset end portion which extends into the recess of the recessed lug, and a second leg having a slot therein which coacts with the central slot in the depending flange of the second lug defining a protuberance at the end of the second leg which seats beneath the second depending flange, a threaded bore in the first leg, and a cable clamping screw rotatable in the threaded bore.

This invention relates to a cable connector, and more particularly to a solderless connector for securing electrical cables to terminal blocks or the like.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a connector, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and utilize, by means of which a cable may be connected with a minimum of time, effort and difliculty.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a connector having a channel for the reception of the end of the cable which is tapered inwardly toward the bottom, preventing the cable from seating against the bottom and providing a minimum distortion of the cable end when in clamped position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this nature which may be manufactured from a minimum number of parts with a minimum of machine operations.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is a main body portion, including a plate adapted to be secured to a terminal block or the like, having at one end a depending channel-shaped member, the side walls of which taper inwardly toward the bottom.

A lug, defining a channel and including a depending end flange, is provided adjacent one side wall of the channel, facing inwardly, and a second projecting flange is provided facing outwardly from the opposite side wall of the channel and having a slot therein. An L-shaped cap, one leg of which is provided with an angularly offset portion which engages beneath the depending end of the first flange, has a second leg which is provided with a portion interfitting the slot in the outwardly projecting flange, and defining a protuberance at the end of the second leg which engages beneath the outwardly projecting lug. The first or top leg is provided with a threaded bore through which extends a clamping screw which is provided with a cable contacting end plate.

Other advantages, objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing a cable clamped in position therein;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main body portion of the connector; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the L-shaped cap.

Referring to the drawings, the device is generally indicated at and comprises a main body portion generally indicated at 11 and a cap generally indicated at 12. Body portion 11 includes a plate-like member 13 provided with a bore 14 into which extends a securing screw 15 for the purpose of securing the device to an insulating block 16 or the like.

A locating flange 17 depends perpendicularly from plate 13 and engages the side or end of insulating block 16 for locating purposes. Spaced outwardly relative to flange 17 is a body portion 18 which has an upwardly and outwardly facing channel 19 therein, having a bottom wall 20 and downwardly and inwardly converging tapered side walls 21 and 22, which is adapted for the reception of the stripped end 23 of an electrically conductive cable 24, the body of which is covered with insulation 25. An upwardly offset portion terminates in an outwardly extending plate-like member 31 having a depending end flange 32 and defining a recess 33 adjacent and above tapered side wall 21, the purpose of which will be more fully described hereinafter, while a second plate-like member 34, provided at its outer edge with a depending flange 35, extends outwardly of the body from the top of tapered wall 22. Member 34 and flange 35 are provided with a slot 36 opening outwardly away from side Wall 22.

L-shaped cap 12 includes a first or top leg 40 which has an upturned angularly offset end portion 41, and a second leg 42 substantially perpendicular thereto. Leg 42 is of reduced width adjacent its juncture with leg 40, as at 43, and includes a pair of laterally offset lugs or protuberances 44 which, in conjunction with a lower plate-like member 45, define opposite slots or channels 46. The thickness of leg 42 between the slots 46 as indicated at 47 is such as to permit it to pass into the slot 36 in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. Leg 40 includes a central threaded bore 48 which is designed for the reception of a clamping screw 49 which may be provided with a hexagonal head 50, or other desired head. The lower end of clamping screw 49 is provided with a clamping plate 51 which presses against stripped end 23 of cable 24 and firmly forces the same downwardly into the tapered channel 19.

The arrangement is such that when the parts are in assembled relation as shown in FIG. 1, offset end portion 41 of plate 40 engages securely in channel 33 beneath flange 32, while slots 36 and 46 coact to hold plate-like portion firmly beneath plate 34 and against depending flange 35. The arrangement is such as to preclude accidental disengagement of the parts when in clamped position, but to permit ready assembly and disassembly when desired. The firm pressure of clamping plate 51 forces cable end 23 downwardly until it is securely clamped between tapered side walls 21 and 22, but since it does not contact bottom 20, material deformation of the cable end is thus precluded.

What is claimed is:

1. A cable connector comprising a mounting portion and body having a downwardly and laterally offset portion with a cable receiving channel angularly disposed with respect to said mounting portion, a plate-like portion extending from said offset portion for securing said body to a support, said channel having a flat angularly disposed bottom and side walls tapering inwardly from the top toward said bottom, the width of the channel at the bottom being less than the normal diameter of a cable clamped therein, 2. depending flange at the distal end of said plate-like portion defining an angularly disposed recess adjacent the top of one tapered side wall having an open side adjacent one side of said channel, and the lower and outer end of said offset portion adjacent the other side of said channel having an outwardly and angularly depending slotted flange thereon, an L-shaped cap being angularly offset at one end thereof seating in said recess for securing one leg of said cap across said channel, said cap being reduced in width intermediate its ends whereby the other end thereof is wider, lugs extending laterally from said intermediate portion and spaced from said wide end whereby the portion between said lugs and wide end will interfit said slotted flange and be retained therein by said lugs and wide end, and a cable 20 clamping means extending through one leg of said cap UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,232,602 2/ 1941 Grace 339---272U 2,381,331 8/1945 Ayers 339272U 2,774,953 12/ 1956 Trier 339-272U 2,865,013 12/ 1958 Kazanowski 339-272U 3,113,822 12/1963 Sorflaten '339-272U 3,259,877 7/1966 Norden 339-258 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner J. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 28754, 306-15 

